Kung Fu - Tai Chi - Westchester NY

Yang Style Tai Chi Classes

Mr Yu

Tai Chi Instructor & Class

Turn the body/Cross kick with heel
High pat on horse
White snake tongue out
Fold Knee & Ankle
Legs Lift the Hands
Relax Half

Key Benefits

Avoid Injuries

Better balance, awareness & reflexes to avoid injuries due to accidents & falls.

Improve Health

Reduce stress, relax and exercise to turn back the clock of aging.

Improve Relationships

Martial Arts are fundamentally the study of peaceful conflict resolution.

Self Defense

Martial arts lowers an already low chance of an attack and improves outcomes.

Why Study Tai Chi?

Unique Health Emphasis

Tai Chi & Kung Fu Study

To study Tai Chi & Kung Fu forms is to be a student of detail. Mr. Yu would say that within the forms are secrets - it wouldn't help at all if he just told you what they were because to use them you had to discover them for yourself. But he encouraged all of his students to have great respect for the form as it leads to effective push hands and self defense as well as improved health an efficiency in everything you do. Tai Chi must be studied before Kung Fu.

Tai Chi is a Distinct Martial Art

Focus on health.
Slow meditative forms to investigate principles.
Push hands to test forms if desired.
Controlled use of force for martial effectiveness.

Mr. Yu’s Yang style is distinct

Form is square; turning square makes circle.
Point and line system of movement.
Full power always in both legs.
Form is rich in detail/precision to maximize effectiveness.

Testimonials

George - Age 70 Tai Chi & Yoga

The Tai Chi classes help with balance, coordination, and perseverance. Steve, who teaches Tai Chi, also has extensive experience in the martial arts. He adds additional insights to Tai Chi by relating the movements to their martial arts origins...I also attend the Hatha Yoga classes at Still Minds conducted by Matt. These Yoga classes are physically invigorating and are certain to lift your spirits. Matt tunes each of his classes to match, with just the right amount of stretch, the capabilities of the students.Read More →

Sabrina - Age 25 Tai Chi & Aikido

What I found doing aikido and tai chi for over two years now was the perfect balance of working out the body and mind. I feel stronger, healthier, and more confident. Starting anything can be very intimidating, especially a martial art. I had never done a martial art before but I realized it's more than just a fitness class...The cross training of tai chi and aikido has helped me strengthen my body and root myself to the ground...Read More →

Jose - Age 50 on Aikido & Medicine

...I am an osteopathic physician with a holistic traditional osteopath practice in which I have been practicing and deepening my understanding of osteopathy at many levels for almost 2 decades. In this realm, I treat patients at many different levels which may include at a boney level, muscle level, fascial level, fluid level, energetic level, spiritual level or more. Many times in our aikido practice, I have mentioned to Sensei, that he is talking and living osteopathy…of life. You see, it seems to understand aikido or osteopathy, we should be living life and understanding life's preciousness and value...Read More →

Drilling Down: How it Works

Self Defense Goals
Health / Fitness Goals
Discipline

Self Defense Learn More

In tai chi practice, one practices solo forms slowly to investigate principles. The form itself do not teach self-defense. They teach skills that you can master by meditative investigation as you practice. In the absence of any pressure from an attacker, you can study how to root to the ground. Then you study how to connect your body from feet to hands so it functions as a single unit. Then the body can receive the power of the attack and release it without sustaining any damage. You learn to control the attackers force and defend yourself with minimal harm. After studying the 108 move yang form, other forms such as Shaolin Kung Fu show how to use physical force and ultimately marry the physical force with the mind force of the tai chi forms. Then the practice of push hands competition can be used to test ones understanding of the forms. For those interested in extensive study of partner practices in self-defense, the aikido system engages in partner practice as self-defense exclusively.

Fitness / Health Learn More

Many people came to my teacher looking for improvements in their health through tai chi practice. In fact, I did as well. He would frequently tell people that if you want to improve your health through tai chi, study it for self-defense. Then your health would improve. I certainly found this to be true for myself. The point is to study the movements for their function, their purpose. Then you can investigate and understand them in depth. By studying the principles, you can learn to relax the body and allow the natural healing mechanisms to operate in full. However, by worrying about one’s health, the stress interferes with the healing process. Depending upon your medical condition, consultation with your doctor, whether western or Chinese medicine, may be your best place to start. However, tai chi is a wonderful form of exercise to improve balance, strengthen the legs and joints, improve energy levels and calm the mind.

Discipline Learn More

My teacher often said that in tai chi, you have to learn patience. The form places you in uncomfortable positions. You have to learn to relax into them and become comfortable in an uncomfortable situation. Then if you develop patience, you have everything. He looked at the forms as containing deep secrets not only for self-defense, but also learning the most effective way to accomplish a task. Once you know the most effective way to do one thing, you can generalize that to every endeavor. As a result, he had a deep sense of respect for the form. That respect, when shared by the student, leads to much deeper levels of learning. For that reason, we don’t teach the forms quickly – many movements at one time. Learning is very shallow that way. Instead, we respect the practice and learn one move at a time, and try to study it in depth. With respect and patience, we gain far greater benefits.

Aikido Westchester NY

Tai Chi (Kung Fu) Classes
Westchester NYTai Chi (Kung Fu)

Yang Style Tai Chi Classes

Mr Yu

Tai Chi Instructor & Class